Method for fabricating glass rods



July 20, 1954 M. J. MEEK METHOD FOR FABRICATING GLASS ROD 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed April 3, 1950 INVENTOR. MELV/A/ A 4455K July 20, 1954 M. J. MEEKMETHOD FOR FABRICATING GLASS ROD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 3, 1950 m=il WWEWJ *1 INVENTOR. MEL V/N MEEK Patented July 20, 1954 METHOD FORFABRICATING GLASS RODS Melvin .l. Meek, Edwardsburg, Mioh., assignor ofone-third to Sam M. Shobert, Mishawaka, and one-third to Bernhard C.Hagquist, South Bend, Ind.

Application April 3,

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus forfabricating a continuous length of resilient glass rod.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a method offabricating a continuous length of resilient glass rod having anydesired cross-sectional size and shape and which may be cut into desiredlengths.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for making this resilient glass rod.

Heretofore, in the fabrication of resilient glass rods or dowels for useas fishing poles, curtain rods, and other items, it has been thepractice to form the desired length and shape of each individual rod bya molding process. If it were desired to make rods of diiferent sizes,it was necessary to use difierent sized molds. Needless to say, thisprocess was time consuming, relatively complex, expensive, and required.a relatively large amount of equipment. In overcoming this deficiency,it is an object of the present invention to simplify and substantiallyreduce the cost of making glass rod.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which willcontinuously operate to gather a plurality of traveling, ordinary glassthreads together into a secure bundle having the desired cross-sectionalshape and size, keeping, at all times, these threads in tension. It isbelieved that one of the principal reasons for the success of thepresent invention is that a means has been provided for tensioning theseglass threads during the endless process which includes bonding thesethreads securely together.

Other objects and objects ancillary thereto will become obvious as thedescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention. being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a perspective illustration of an embodiment of an apparatusof the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental portion of Figure 1 showing onemethod of supporting a plurality of spools of glass thread for rotation;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of an annular structure for gathering theglass threads forwarded from the plurality of spools;

1959, Serial No. 153,562

Figure 4; is an axial section taken on section line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a partial top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the structure of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken substan tially on section line llof Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken substantially on section line8-43 of Fig. 6.

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken substantially on section line 9-3of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a transverse section taken substan tially on section linelit-Ill of Figure 6; and

Figure 11 is a transverse section taken substantially on section line ili I of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1, theapparatus comprises a relatively long, horizontal frame member #2 ofchannel shaped cross section, preferably made of iron, supported in itsillustrated elevated position by means of a plurality of spaced supportpedestals l4. At the left or head end E6 of frame member !2 is mounted acreel or frame it for rotatably supporting a plurality of horizontallyand vertically spaced spools 2t! of glass thread. These threads,generally indicated by reference numeral 22, are passed through eyelets24 suitably secured to and spaced about the inner periphery of agathering annulus 23 which is rigidly supported in spaced relation fromframe end !6 by means of a frame 28. A pair of diametrically disposedfastening pins or bolts 30, in conjunction with a like pin or bolt 32may be used to secure the gathering annulus E6 in place on frame 23.Coincident with the horizontal diameter of annulus 26 and suitablysecured thereto is a bar 3% having a plurality of spaced, rigid,substantially vertical, radial fingers 36 which receive therebetween oneither side of bar t l, some of the threads 2:? for-- warded from creelit. The threads 22 are passed through respective eyelets 2d and betweenrespective bars 36 in such relation as will produce the desired result.This relation, while not critical, will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

Rigidly secured to the end iii of frame i2 is a pair of upstandingsupports 33 which have a pair of horizontally projecting arms ill, resectiv y, adapted to be secured to respective sides of either the frame52 itself or to a wedge shaped block 42 securely positioned on top offrame it. The purpose of this block 52 will be explained here after.Horizontally journalled between said supports 38 are a pair ofvertically spaced guide rol1 ers 44 which receive over, under, andtherebetween, in a predetermined manner, the threads 22. Rigidly mountedimmediately below the lower roller ie is a comb structure it which isconstituted by a bar 38 fastened at its ends to respective upstandingsupports 38, and a plurality of radially outwardly projecting teeth orfingers =35 whichareisecuredrto and axiallyspaeed along said bar 5%.

Positioned on the top side of frame l2 adjacent the comb structure 46 isa vat or con: tainer 52 having a narrow portion Stonpone end and aflared portion 56 on the other end. As

viewed in Figure 6, it is to be; noted that-- thebottom 58 is inclinedslightly upwardly and rests on block 2 for support. Rotatably: supportedin parallel spaced relation between the sides of flared portion 58 arethree guidefrodsiiil whose ends are preferably mounted in respectiveslotted blocks 62 for vertical adjustment, said blocksfii. beingsuitably secured to,the respective sides of flared portion 55. Arectangular bar Ed is also secured between the sides of flared portion5% and is provided with an elongated aperture As viewed in Figures 5 and6, threads 2'2. engage the undersides ofrods 68, and pass .t roughaperture t6, whereby the threads 22 are gathered inwardly for subsequentfeeding through a series of gathering and sizingdies 88. As illustrated,seven such dies aroused; however, it is to be understood that anynumber, may be used without departing; from the scope-of this invention.Referring to FiguresS and9, it is seen that the left hand die 68 has anelongated opening iii while the right hand die 68 has a round opening 2.The openings in all seven of the dies are progressively varied in sizeto collect and shape in an orderly manner all of the threads 22 into thedesired cross-sectional shape and size; These die E8 openings may haveother shapes and sizes depending upon the desired shape and size of thefinished product. The threads 22' after leaving aperture 66 pass throughthese die es openings and thence through a suitably sized opening is inthe end 16 of narrow container portion 5%.

This invention utilizes a heat-hardenable resin which is poured, inliquid, uncured state into container 52. Asviewed in Figures 5 and 6,the threads 22 enter this liquid resin ahead of the hand. guide bar illalong a line is defined by the various threads points of entry into saidliquid resin. As viewed in Figure 6, the threads 22 arecompletelysubmerged in this resin bath throughout the entire length ofcontainer 52, and are progressively gathered together along the lengthof this oontainer 52 as they follow a subs stantially collinear pathuntil they are finally formed into a bundle 85 having substantially thedesired finished cross-sectional size and shape of the finished rod.

Next the bundle 89 is fed through a final sizing die 82 which may or maynot be used, depending upon individual preferences, said die 82 merelycomprising a pair of complementary sections 85, and 6G suitably formedto provide a longitudinal opening 88 having a size which determines thesize and shape of the finished rod. This die 82 secured on top of frame[2 with the axis of opening 88 being collinear with the aligned axes ofsymmetry of the openings in dies 68.

The bundle 80 after leaving die 82 continues to follow theaforementioned substantially collinear path and enters a relatively longcuring oven Hiliwhichis completely enclosed except for the openings 92,in the two ends thereof. Grooved guidingrollers 911 are longitudinallyspaced along threads into a rod-like bundle, squeezing out the threads22, through the various stages the floor of the oven 90 and the top sideof frame l2, and serve to support for longitudinal travel the bundle 80.Actually, because of the r h, the bundle after it leaves the dies and tself-supporting and will retain its shape as it passes through thecuring oven en. The space inside oven 901s heated; preferablyuniformly,any suitable means, andin the present instance by electrical stripheaters 93 which run along the underside of frame [2 for the entirelength of the oven 90. The heat from the heaters 35 rises and fills theoven 9E). The necessary termperature and the length dimension of theoven at depends .upon the curing characteristics of. the resin usedand'may easily be determined either by experimentorfrom the resinmanuiacturers specifications.

In practice, a resin is used which will cure, or polymerize at atemperature of 300 degrees and the length of the oven 96} is made suchthat the-bundle8G will be maintained substantially at this temperaturefor the necessary period of ouring time, this length depending upon thevel city at which said bundle Bil is caused to pass through said oven96. A thermo-responsive control may be used in said oven to keep thetemperature a constant value.

As the individual threads 22 travel subm rged through the liquid and aregathered by the immersed dies 68, any air carried by the threadinherently is rubbed off or squeezed out, such air then levitating inthe resin to the surface thereof. As the air leaves the threads, liquidresin flows into-the void spaces thereb insuring complete impregnation.The resultant rod is than free of entrained air.

Mounted onframe E2 in spaced relation from the outlet end- 98 of oven96] (see Figure l) i a pulling device Hill which is comprised of a p. ofdriven friction rollers Hi2 which are adapted to grip therebetween thecured bundle B53 in such a manner as to impart a constant velocity to inthe direction of arrow F. This pulling device I00 constitutes the solemeans for conveying 22 are thereby maintained in tension. The gree oftension is determined by the fricti resistance to rotation of the spoolsiii, and frictional resistance between the various gath ing and guidingdevices and the threads T tension may obviously be varied to obt desiredresilient characteristics of the prod not.

The finished rod leaves the pulling device and may then be cut intodesired lengths by means well known to the art.

A glass rod produced by this method and paratus having an approximatelength of 1" feet and a diameter of approximately threeeighths of aninch can be pulled around into a complete circle and then releasedwhereupon will return to its original rod like form.

The resin is a conventional type used in other well known processes formaking resilient glass rod products.

I claim:

1*. A methodifor producing resilient solid rods comprising the steps ofcontinuously ing aplurality of glass threads through. a or" liquidheat-hardenable resin, gathering s entrapped between the gatheredthreads, co pressing rod-like bundle into a predet mined cross-sectionalshape and passing said bundle through an oven for curing the and cuttingthe cured ndles into desired lengths, said threads being maintained intension during the curing 2. A method for producing resilient solidglass rods comprising the steps of tensioning a plurality of glassthreads, continuously drawing sai' threads through a bath of liquidheat-hardenable resin, gathering said threads into a rod=1il ze bundle,withdrawing the air entrapped the bundle, forming said rod-like bundleinto a predetermined cross-sectional shape and size, and curing theresin in said bundle by means of heat.

3. A method for producing a continuous length of resilient solid glassrod from a plurality of glass threads bonded together by means of aheathardenable resin by continuously pullin said thr ads along apredetermined drawing threads through a liquid heat-hardenable resin,gathering said threads into a bundle having predeterminedcross-sectional shape and size, withdrawing air entrapped in saidbundle, and curing the resin impregnated bundle by means of heat.

4. A method for producing a continuous length of resilient solid glassrod from a plurality oi glass threads bonded together by means of aheat-hardenable resin by pulling said threads along a predeterminedpath, wetting said threads as they pass a predetermined location,athering said vetted threads into a rod-like bundle as they pass asecond predetermined location, withdrawing air entrapped in said bundleand curing said resin impregnated bundle by means of heat as it passes athird predtermined location.

5. A method for producing a continuous length of resilient solid glassrod from a plurality of glass threads bonded together by means of aheathardenable resin by continuously pulling said threads through aquantity of liquid heathardenable resin, forming said resin coatedthreads into a rod-like bundle of a predetermined cross-sectional shapeand'size, and during the bundle forming step causing air entrapped insaid bundle to be eliminated, and then curing said resin impregnatedbundle until it is securely bonded into shape.

6. The steps in the method of making a continuous length of resilientsolid glass rod which may be cut into desired lengths by successivecutting operations, comprising: continuously forwarding a plurality ofglass threads under tension along a predetermined path, coating saidthreads with a bonding material as they traverse a first predeterminedlocation, gathering said coated threads as they traverse a second prede"termined location into a rod-like bundle having a desiredcross-sectional shape and size, expelling air entrained in the bundle ina plurality of successively spaced steps, and curing the bondingmaterial in said bundle as it traverses a third predetermined locationto bond said threads together.

7. The steps in the method of making a continuous length of resilientsolid glass rod which may be out into desired lengths by succesivecutting operations, comprising: continuously pulling a plurality ofglass threads, first, through a bath of liquid heat-hardenable resin,secondly, through a plurality of spaced gathering dies immersed in saidbath for collecting said threads into a bundle having the desiredcross-sectional size and shape, and thirdly through an oven adapted toheat the resin impregnated rod to curing temperature whereby saidthreads will be securely bonded together to form a solid rod.

8. The steps in the method of making a continuous length of resilientsolid glass rod which may be out into desired lengths by successivecutting operations, comprising: continuously forwarding a plurality ofglass threads under tension along a predetermined substantiallycollinear path, a per ion of path being submerged in heat-hardenableresin, said resin covering and adhering to said threads as the latterpass therethrough, gathering said covered threads into a rod-like bundlewhile they are still submerged in said resin, removing any air which maybe carried by said threads during submergence in said resin, saidremoved air levitating to the surface of said resin, and curing saidresin in said bundle until it is securely bonded into shape.

9. The steps in the method of makin a continuous length of resilientsolid glass rod which may be out into desired lengths by successivecutting operations, comprising: continuously forwarding a plurality ofglass threads under tension along a predetermined substantiallycollinear path, a portion of said path being submerged inheat-hardenable resin, said resin covering and adhering to said threadsas the latter pass therethrough, gathering said covered threads into arod-like bundle While they are still submerged in said resin, removingany air which ma be carried by said threads during submergence in saidresin, said removed air levitating to the surface of said resin, causingsaid bundle to retain its shape after it has passed from said gatheringwithout the use of any holding means externally applied to said bundle,and curing said resin in said bundle until the latter is securely bondedinto shape.

-rences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSI-Iovrald, Modern Plastics, February, 1946, pages 124 and 125.

1. A METHOD FOR PRODUCING RESILIENT SOLID GLASS RODS COMPRISING THESTEPS OF CONTINUOUSLY DRAWING A PLURALITY OF GLASS THREADS THROUGH ABATH OF LIQUID HEAT-HARDENABLE RESIN, GATHERING SAID THREADS INTO AROD-LIKE BUNDLE, SQUEEZING OUT AIR ENTRAPPED BETWEEN THE GATHEREDTHREADS, COMPRESSING SAID ROD-LIKE BUNDLE INTO A PREDETERMINEDCROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE AND SIZE, PASSING SAID BUNDLE THROUGH AN OVEN FORCURING THE RESIN, AND CUTTING THE CURED BUNDLES INTO DESIRED LENGTHS,SAID THREADS MAINTAINED IN TENSION DURING THE CURING STEP.